Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-06
HER SCHEME.
A Fert Little Maid Attempts Black-mail
Or Portland Merchant, hut Is UBsuc-
cessful in Her Plot.
PORTLAND, Aug. 5.

PORTLAND, Aug. 3.
Some months ago young and handsome
girl, who gave her name as Nellie Shaw,
came TO Portland from Bangor Being of
fine appearance and seemingly very capa-
BILE girl, she soon obtained a situation as
bookkeeper in enc Of the leading business
houses here.
After she had been in the employ of this
firm short time, the proprietor received
letter from Portland lawyer notifying him
that proceedings were about to commence
against him on charge of seduction pre-
ferred by the parents of Miss Shaw, and that
it would be well for him to call at the law.
yer's office, and if possible, settle the affairs
without litigation.
The merchant went to the lawyers office
and asked for an explanation.
The lawyer reiterated the statement con-
tanned in his letter that the Young lady's
parents were about to bring suit for seduc-
ton against the merchant He declined to
name the sum of money that the lady was
"IIllHs 10 accept as settlement.
The merchant asserted his innocence of
the charge and declared the whole thing an
attempt to blackmail. He said that he would
fight it to the end, and, Immediately pro-
ceeding, put the case in the hands of de-
tectiye, Robert A. Davis Of this city.
Detective Davis went to Bangor and dis
covered that Miss Shaw is the daughter of
Bangor parents Of another name. He inter-
viewed the mother and found no suit had
been commenced by the girls parents and
they had no knowledge of any pending.
Returning to this city he drected his ener-
gies in the direction of discovering the girls
antecedent record, and following a slight
clue went to Boston in search of information
on that point He found there that Nellie
Shaw, alias Nellie Pearson, was brought be
fore the superior court for the county of Suf-
folk, in 1888, and there pleaded guilty
on an indictment charging her with conspir-
ing with one, George Pearson, her alleged
husband, in attempting TO extort money from
Thomas +. Mann by threats of charging him
with adultery with Nellie. The sum attempt
ed from Mann $500
At the MAY term of the same court George
Pearson was sentenced to States Prison for
three years, and Nellie Pearson was sentence
ed to the House of Correction for two years
at hard labor.
After leaving the House of Correction, and
before the expiration of her term of sentence,
she having been made an object of executive
clemency, she went to Providence, r. l.,
where she is said to have been concerned in
several cases of attempted extortions of
money On her return to Bangor, which is
said to be her native place. she applied for a
divorce from Pearson, charging desertion and
understood adultery.
The divorce was granted by the justice of
the supreme court, in session at Bangor last
fall, and she resumed her maiden name.
From Bangor she came directly to this city
and was known generally by the name of
Nellie Shaw.
When questioned by her employer, after
his interview with the lawyer, she strenuous
ly denied having made a charge against him,
aud was Immediately discharged from her
situation. She then abandoned the seduction
line of attack and charged her employer with
being the father of an unborn child and re-
newed her demand for money.
Later, in conversation with persons who
had her confidence, she admitted her stories
were all false and concocted to obtain money
from her late employer.
The young woman is of very prepossessing
appearance, by many regarded as strlkingly
handsome. She is well educated and has an
air of almost childish innocence.